Big Leagues- The Milwaukee Brewers have come a long way in the last few years and they are one of the more exciting teams to watch in the National League. Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun have led the emergence of this club and the combination of these two big names and their role players have built a team that is to be reckoned with in a vastly improved NL Central. They recently traded their former top prospect, Alcides Escobar, to the Royals, but what they got in return is going to invaluable to their team in 2011. Zack Greinke has taken over as the Brewers ace and helped them to climb past the mediocre teams in our preseason rankings. Right now they are the 6th ranked team for us in the National League and that puts them in the thick of the playoff hunt. Braun and Fielder are both top level fantasy picks and Braun is worth taking in the top 5 of any draft. Greinke, Gallardo, and Marcum are all awesome pitchers to have on a fantasy staff and other considerations include Rickie Weeks and Corey Hart. If your league is deep and you need late round picks Yunisky Betancourt plays a solid role and Carlos Gomez will put up average numbers for the Brewers and your fantasy club.
Here is their lineup for opening day 2011:
Catcher- Jonathan Lucroy
1st Base- Prince Fielder
2nd Base- Rickie Weeks
Shortstop- Yunisky Betancourt
3rd Base- Casey McGahee
Left Field- Ryan Braun
Center Field- Carlos Gomez
Right Field- Corey Hart
Pitching- Zack Greinke, Yovani Gallardo, Shawn Marcum, Randy Wolf, Chris Narveson
Relief- Latroy Hawkins, Jon Axford
Top 5 Prospects
RHP Mark Rogers- The Brewers never had a good farm system, and it didn't get any better after trading some of their top prospects to the Royals for Zack Greinke. That brings us back to the Brewers number 5 overall pick in the 2004 draft, Mark Rogers. After being drafted out of Mt. Ararat High School in Maine, Rogers battled struggled with arm problems for 3 or 4 years. Even after injuries Rogers still sports a 93-96 mph fastball and a hard breaking ball. After staying healthy the past two seasons, the Brewers are giving him a chance to compete for the 5th starter job in spring training, and the righty could be a nice pickup if he secures it.
RHP Cody Scarpetta- Scarpetta is a very solid prospect who projects as a solid third starter. Last year in Single A he had a 3.87 ERA in 27 games. He has an average fastball and changeup but one of the best curveball's in the Brewers minor league system. Last year he had 142 strikeouts in 128 innings last year and will look to move up to Double A and produce next year
RHP Kyle Heckathorn- The Brewers 1st round pick in 2009 spent his entire 22 year old season in Single A last year and had success in 124 innings. He compiled a 10 and 6 record with a 2.98 ERA. Heckathorn is not overpowering but a smart pitcher who does not put extra men on base. The jump to Double A should be an interesting one for him, and you'll be able to tell a lot more about his career after this season.
RHP Wily Peralta- The Domican right hander struggled with his command last year in Single and Double A, and he will need to harness his command before he can make a push to the top level prospect. With a 3.79 Era last year we can see Peralta sticking in Double A next year for some seasoning.
RHP Amaury Rivas- As a 24 year old in Double A last year Rivas lacks top prospect potential, but could be looked at as a long reliever or fill in spot starter for the Brewers in the future. Last year he had a 3.37 ERA in Double A and he should make the move to Triple A and increase his workload for the 2011 season.
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